The U.S. securities regulator is preparing for a major recalibration in how it deals with digital assets.
Newly seated SEC Chair Paul Atkins signaled that the coming year could reshape the crypto policy landscape, hinting that the groundwork for change has already been laid inside the agency.
Key Takeaways
New SEC Chair Paul Atkins is preparing major crypto policy changes.
His philosophy marks a clear break from Gary Gensler’s enforcement-first stance.
Congress still controls a large part of the outcome, with a crypto bill under negotiation.
Speaking at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit in Washington, Atkins used an agricultural metaphor to describe his vision. What the SEC has been doing behind the scenes, he said, was less about immediate action and more about planting for the future.
The next phase, in his view, is the moment when “those seeds start to grow” — and the public begins to see tangible results.
A Clean Break From Gensler-Led Enforcement Priority
Atkins’ tone represents a clear departure from former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whose tenure was defined by legal battles, aggressive enforcement, and the assertion that most tokens were unregistered securities.
Where Gensler favored lawsuits and compliance crackdowns, Atkins is trying to establish a regulatory architecture that encourages experimentation rather than smothers it.
His early agenda includes crafting a classification system for digital assets, updating outdated securities rules to reflect blockchain technology, and introducing streamlined pathways for new token-based products to reach the market.
First Test Case: The “Innovation Exemption”
One of the initial policy tools Atkins wants to roll out is a conditional safe zone for crypto ventures — essentially allowing startups to test products without facing full compliance obligations immediately.
He suggested that the exemption may be publicly released before the end of January, framing it as a pilot that lowers barriers to innovation and reduces costs for emerging fintech firms.
However, the SEC cannot act alone. Lawmakers are still negotiating a wide-ranging crypto bill that would determine how oversight is divided between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Talks are progressing, but slowly — a reminder that Atkins’ ambitions partly depend on cooperation from Capitol Hill.
A cautiously optimistic roadmap
For an industry long accustomed to regulatory hostility, Atkins’ message represents a notable shift. Yet he acknowledged that much remains uncertain and that his plans could evolve as Congress shapes the broader framework.
Even so, his comments suggest that — for the SEC at least — the era of waiting may be over. The real work, he says, is only beginning.
